Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 10 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

We are on our final chapter in this book today,
which feels pretty awesome!

Today I am going to focus on The Sinful Woman.

There once was a girl on death row.

A prostitute & killer, we know.

He pardoned her sin,

so she might live once again.

For the rest of the story read below...

Luke 7:36-50  "One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat.  When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.  Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping.  Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair.  The she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is ouching him.  She's a sinner!"  Then Jesus answered his thoughts.  "Simon," he said to the Pharisee, "I have something to say to you."  "Go ahead, Teacher," Simon replied.  Then Jesus told him this story: 

"A man loaned money to two people-- 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.  But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts.  Who do you suppose loved him more after that?"

Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt."  "That's right," Jesus said.  Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Look at this woman kneeling here.  When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You didn't greet me with a kiss, but from the first time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet.  You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.  "I tell you, her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.  But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."  Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgive."  The men at the table said among themselves, "Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?"  And Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Take a moment and think about what you just read.

Does it give you goosebumps when you realize how AWESOME our father is?

He sent his son here to show love and forgiveness.

People doubted who and what he was, but this woman took a leap of faith.

She wanted a better life.

She cried tears over HIS feet to wash them.

She dried HIS feet with her hair.

She anointed HIS feet with the most expensive items she probably owned.

And his response to her, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

I don't know about you, but there are days when I would love to hear those words spoken to me.

I am not perfect.

**psst...here is a surprise, but none of us are perfect**

I know Jesus died for my sins, but to have been able to sit at his feet.

Whoa.

There are those goosebumps again.

I probably would have cried at his feet too.

When was the last time you humbled yourself in HIS presence?

My suggestion to you, and a challenge to myself is, find some quiet time this next week.

During that time just allow the walls to break down.

Cry if you need, sing if you please, whatever you do just do it humbly for him.

I have this suspicion that when you walk away from that quiet time you'll, "go in peace".

This is a short lesson this week.

I am kinda feeling that less is more.

So let's get to the next part....

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM The SINFUL Woman?

- 1 - People will talk, no matter what we do.

"We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts." ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:4

- 2 - The Pharisees though they were the Good Guys.

"No on is good--except God along." ~Mark 10:18

- 3 - One person's beautiful is another person's ugly.

"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." ~ 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

- 4 - Silence speaks volumes.

"The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him." ~Habakkuk 2:20

Once again I challenge you to find some quiet time this week.

Time that you can go to HIM humbly.

Pray, Sing, Cry, Sit Silently, do as you please.

When your time is up, do as he says, "go in peace".

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

P.S. Next Friday I will be doing a book review over 'SURFING FOR GOD: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle' by Michael John Cusick.  This book is a book I was given for free to review, the subject matter is intense, but if you or someone you know is struggling with any types of sexual struggles please check back next week for my review.

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 9 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

It's been a few weeks *cough 8* since we talked about our Bad Girls of the Bible.

I am sorry about that, the move and vacations really has thrown me off my groove.

We only have 2 chapters left in this book so let's get to one of them.

Today I am going to focus on Michal.

Chapter 9: Out of Step

A smitten girl.

A handsome boy.

And a father out for blood.

Sounds like most dating relationships right?

Okay maybe not so much.

The beginning of this story leads us to believe that the bad guy is 100% Saul.

Michal seems to genuinely love David and goes so far as to warn him that if he stays he will be killed.

She sends the love of her life off so that his life will be spared!

In doing so she may never see him again.

Sounds honorable.

Heroic.

But it's possible that her actions were driven by less than pure motives.

The book says "What initially appeared as the selfless act of a loving wife might turn out to be the selfish game-playing of an immature, infatuated girl".

She was making her father look like a fool.

By the time she realized that her father wasn't up for playing games she also realized she needed a better story than "...but I LOVE HIM".

1 Samuel 19:17 "Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy escape?" Saul demanded of Michal.  "I had to," Michal replied.  "He threatened to kill me if I didn't help him".

Wait.

Hold up.

WHAT?!

You send away the man you love in hopes of saving him only to give your father a line like that?

EVERY girl should know that a line like that will only fuel a fathers desire to find and kill David that much greater!

David is gone.

Saul still wants him dead.

Michal is married off to another.

Flash forward.

David comes out of hiding.

He's stronger now and he wants Michal back.

And what David wants, he gets.

He's a busy man, doing all he can to glorify the Lord.

2 Samuel 6:16 "And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart." 

"His leaping was the last straw, but the haystack had been building for a very long time.  David had deserted her, ignored her, married other wives, fathered other children, and neglected even to include her in his life until it was politically expedient". ~pg 219

Over the years Michal has been filled with an array of emotions, not one of them being positive towards David.
When David returned 'home' to greet his Michal she stormed out to give him a tongue lashing all her own.
She viewed his dancing as risque, raunchy, inappropriate.
None of which were any of the things that David was going for.
He was dancing to show his passion for God, but Michal was unable to view it that way.
It was her harshness towards David that caused David to lash back.
He cut her from his life, promising to always be 'foolish' for the Lord.
That was that.
Michal always was "daughter of Saul".
She was never really "wife of David".
This was her own doing though, if you don't cleave from your parents when you marry there will always be something getting in the way of you truly growing close to your spouse.
The book sums up Michal as Bad for a Moment.
That moment was when she lashed out at David.
"...she never reached out to her heavenly Father, never gave her heart to God...in truth she never depended on the goodness of God to make her whole". ~pg 221

With all this said.....

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM MICHAL?

- 1 - When God says dance, strap on your tap shoes!
"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy". Psalm 30:11

- 2 - Nothing stops worship like unconfessed sin.
"An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad". Proverbs 29:6

- 3 - Words spoken in the heat of anger are sure to burn.
"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires". James 1:19-20

- 4 - Wise is the woman who rises above her circumstances
"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other". Ecclesiastes 7:14

In my eyes Michal is not bad.
At least not in the traditional sense.
Michal is like most of us.
If our husbands were sent away and didn't think about us for the extent of their absence we would be hurt.
I know I would.
Michal was hurt and she used that hurt to fuel an anger that was placed in her heart by her father.
We have to be careful of seeds like that.
Family is influential like that.
Family can sway our vote quicker than any other.
Forget peer pressure, parental pressure can be detrimental to your health!
This week remember these lessons and use them to fuel all you do.
Dance.
Repent.
Soften your heart AND your tongue.
Rise above.
In the end you will feel better and you will be honoring God at the same time!

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 8 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Rahab.

Today I am going to focus on the worst of them all- Jezebel.

Chapter 8: Friends in Low Places

A whiny husband.

A controlling wife.

This is a recipe for disaster!

'Jezebel filled her palace and surrounding worship centers with 450 priests and 400 priestesses of foreign gods.  Sexual immorality, temple prostitution, even the sacrifice of children were the order of the day'(pg 186)

Sexual immorality...bad.

Temple prostitution....really bad.

SACRIFICE OF CHILDREN....Uh hello...SERIOUSLY demented here.

This is just a glimpse of the bad that was Jezebel.

Later in the story we hear that her husband throws a temper tantrum because he wants some land that is NOT rightfully his or rightfully his to have.

A grown man, throwing a temper tantrum.

I can only imagine how I would have responded.

Probably in the same condescending tone she did.

But as we know, that is not the way we as wives are to go.

It's also not a good practice for our husband to act in such a manner, but we are ignoring that right now.

In order to stop his incessant whining she devises a plan in which the land owner, an innocent man as far as we know is killed, thus allowing them to have the land free and clear.   

Later Ahab has an experience that leads him to repent his ways....

unfortunately Jezebel doesn't get the message and in the end is killed in a grizzly manner.

Take a look at your relationship (past and present, marriage or dating).

Take a look at your personality.

Jezebel is strong-willed, domineering, quick to criticize, eager to take charge, slow to give up control, sharp-tongued, stubborn, impatient, and unwilling to be defeated.

Do any of those traits sound like ones you have or have experienced before?

I'm so guilty.  

Strong-willed...guilty...I always chocked it up to being the first born and being a natural born take charge leader kinda girl.

Eager to take charge...see above!

Impatient....see above again!

How did that play out in my relationships and marriage?

Well I recall dating a few Ahabs.

Whiny boys who never seemed to grow up and thankfully God helped me see that those were not the relationships I was meant to be in.

As far as my marriage, there were times early on when Bud had to point out that I was not allowing him to be the head of the household.

8 years in and I'd say I still feel my strong-willed urges kick in from time to time, but I have a better grasp on them.

Don't get me wrong, Bud & I feel that decisions should be talked about and equally agreed upon, but if there is ever a time when we reach an impasse, I know that in my heart it is his job to make the end decision.

It doesn't mean I won't feel the desire to slip into old habits and try to take charge.

That being said, I know what my strengths and weaknesses are and I know that I need God to help me keep them in check.

I need God to help me honor my husband.

I need to honor my husband so that he can be the husband God wants him to be.

See that circle....

....it never ends.

Honor God, Honor Husband, Husband Honors God, Husband Honors You....etc.

Jezebel never learned that.

But we can!

Read these verses and see what the Bible says about how the Lord evaluates our spoken words:

Proverbs 8:13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech

Matthew 12:34-37  You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  A good man brings good things out of the good that is stored up in him.  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

1 Peter 3:10-11 Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.

Our book tells us that we can  be a strong woman and not a Jezebel.

1 Corinthians 16:13  Be on your guard; stand firm in your faith; be courageous; be strong.

Even if you have been inclined to be a Jezebel at times, it's not to late to repent and ask God's forgiveness. 

Read and see...

Ezekiel 18:30 I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord.  REPENT!  Turn away from all your offenses and sin will not be your downfall.

Ezekiel 18:32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone.  Repent and Live!

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

With all this said.....

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JEZEBEL?

- 1 - Like father, (not necessarily) like daughter.
"A father to the fatherless...is God in his holy dwelling".  Psalm 68:5

- 2 - Ruling your country is one thing; ruling your husband is another.
"Wives, submit to your husbands as the Lord...Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her".  Ephesians 5:22,25

- 3 - No one wants to work for a witch.
"Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven". Colossians 4:1

- 4 - The only person who saw Ahab as weak was Jezebel
"Your beauty should not come from outward adronment....Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight". 1 Peter 3:3-4

So know this.
We can all have Jezebel tendencies.
It is how we act upon them that matters.
We all know a Jezebel.
It is how we respond to her and treat her that matters.
Repent for your sins.
Pray for the Jezebel in your life.
God's forgiveness is greater than we know.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 7 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Sapphira.

Today I am going to focus on Rahab- the harlot.

Chapter 7: Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Labels.
Have you ever noticed how it seems everyone is given a label?
Maybe they aren't all bad, but it sure does seem like we all have them.
Smart, stupid, skinny, fat, organized, parent, etc.
The list goes on and on and on.
Rahab's story shows us many things one of which is that labels can be more than what we are.
They can show what God is capable of rescuing us from.
God can use all of us, no matter what we've done, who we've been, or where we try to hid.

Let's have a quick recap of the story of Rahab.
One day the prostitute opened her door to 2 strangers.
They were running from the local law enforcement.
They begged that she hid them.
Intrigued she does and when the officers arrive she denies knowing them.
She points the officers in the opposite direction.
When she learns from these men that they are spies sent by the Israelites (who are about to take the land promised to them) she begs that her family and her life be spared.
They promise her that and this ends her days as a prostitute.
Once rescued she is taken among the Israelites as one of their own.
The label of harlot is one that proves how far she's come by the grace of God.

I wonder if Rahab struggled with her label once she was welcomed by the Israelites.
I think about the labels I have had placed on me and I've struggled with them on occasion.
Do you think she worried no one would like her?
That people were still judging her?
Do you wonder that?
Do you judge people based on their labels and not on your own interactions with them?

Read these verses and see what the Bible says about judging one another:

Romans 14:10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister?  Or why do you treat them with contempt.  For we will all stand before God's judgement seat.

James 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver & Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you- who are you to judge your neighbor?

Now read these verses and see how we can skip over the prejudice thought process and focus on seeing people as sinners saved by grace.

John 13:34-35 A new command I give you; Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind & compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.

Rahab demonstrated these virtues, in spite of her label!

She was kind and compassionate to strangers who came to her door.

She knew nothing concrete about them and yet she helped them, hid them, saved them so they could in turn rescue her and her family later.

JOSHUA 2:8-13

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who are living in this country are melting in fear because of you.  We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.  When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.  Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you.  Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them-- and that you will save us from death".

The book asks us "How do we know Rahab didn't simply tell these men what they wanted to hear so they would spare her life"?

After all if Rahab was a harlot that means she probably was good at reading men and knowing what they wanted.

I believe though that this was a time when her true colors shown through.

Being a harlot was what she did, but it wasn't who she was.

She was a person who feared the coming destruction, just as those around her.

She was a person who had heard the tales and who had melted in fear.

She was a woman whose intuition pushed her to hid these men and in doing so proved her right.

 I think these men knew she was genuine.

ROMANS 10:10

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

That verse sounds like it was written straight from God to Rahab that day.

Her heart believed and she professed that and because of it her families life and her own were saved.

Focus on these verses and see what the Bible says about obedience:

John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commands

2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Romans 16:19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil

 1 John 3:24 The one who keeps God's commands lives in him and he in them.  And this is how we know that he lives in us: we know it by the spirit he gave us.

With all this said.....

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM RAHAB?

- 1 - Our past does not determine our future

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". ~Romans 8:1

- 2 - Rahab cared abut her family's safety, not merely her own pretty neck.

"If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever". ~1 Timothy 5:8

- 3 - Obedience often requires public confession

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say this....

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men". ~Psalm 107:2, 8

- 4 - Faith that's demonstrated is remembered

"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead". ~James 2:26

So remember that we all have labels.

But who we are/were does not define who God can make us into or what God can use us for.

Rahab was a harlot, turned hero.

What can God use your for....

....the possibilites are endless.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 6 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Delilah and Samson, but mostly Delilah.

Today I am going to focus on Sapphira.

Chapter 6: Generous to a Fault

The truth.

The whole truth.

And nothing but the truth, so help you God.

I'm curious if hearing those words would have prompted Sapphira and her hubby to think twice before lying about the money.

It seems in this day and age so many people lie about money.

Usually it's putting on the front that they have more than they have.

I mean seriously credit card debt, new homes, new cars, fancy wardrobes.

I'm guilty in one way or another, I'm sure many of us are.  

I've told you a ton of times that we are working hard to pay of student loans, 5 year plan.

Fortunately, we have paid off our credit cards!!!

I can't imagine if people would fall down dead now days when confronted with their financial situations.

How would you fair, eek?

But let's zoom out a little and take a look at a bigger picture that knocked me off my feet.

ACTS 4:32-35

All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had.  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.  For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Can you imagine a church community like this?

How about one like this now days?

Honestly, we have all that we need and then some.

But I know that there are people in the church who might be hurting.

But because of those financial facades we put on it's harder to tell now days.

I think the closest we have come to selfless generosity recently was when our neighbor lent us his lawn mower after our broke.  

When I think about a community such as this where things were freely shared, my mind immediately goes to the idea of being able to borrow a car from time to time.

We are a one car family and there are days when being in 2 places with one car is a challenge.  

If only there was a community car that could be shared.

I digress....

LUKE 12:33-34

Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.

Where is your treasure?
I think most of us would say that we value our family most in life.
Which to me means that earthly possessions are just THINGS compared to the love and support of our family.
Where do you think Sapphira and her husbands treasure lay?
Why do you think they kept some for themselves?
Do you think they knew their actions were wrong, but that maybe they justified and rationalized it in their minds and hearts?

Read this verse and see what the Bible says about the virtues of generosity:

Psalm 112:5 Good will come to those who are generous & lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper; who ever refreshes others will be refreshed.

2 Corinthians 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourself, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

When you read over the story do you think that Sapphira's problems was that she was trying to keep up with the 'Joneses'?

How do you resist the tendency to engage in the tit for tat warfare of need vs want?

We still fall victim to the inner craving from time to time, but I think having a financial goal right now is really helping us curve this bad habit. 

I think Dave Ramsey says it best, "Live like no other, so you can live like no other"!

EPHESIANS 4:25

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

That verse tells us that we need to stop competing with each other!

Help each other.

Build each other up!

I can't help but wonder if this tale would have gone differently if Sapphira and her husband would have just be up front from the get go.

If they would have said, "Hey, so yeah, we thought we might make X amount on the sale, but we made more and since we made Y% more we were hoping we could keep the extra".

Maybe they had some debt they were trying to pay off?

I don't know, none of us does.  

We never know the heart of a person, that is between that person and God.  

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM SAPPHIRA?

- 1 - Pride and generosity don't mix.

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver". ~2 Corinthians 9:7

- 2 - Learn to give when nobody's looking.

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your lefthand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret". ~Matthew 6:3-4

- 3 - Honesty isn't the best policy; it's the only policy.

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies". ~Psalm 34:13

- 4 - You pay your money, you make your choice

"The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death". ~Proverbs 11:19

All in all I think we can agree that we should be honest.

We should not put on fronts.

We should help each other out.

We should be shining examples of God's love.

And we can't get away with anything, because he sees everything.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 5 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about The Woman at the Well.

Today I am going to focus on Delilah.

Is it just me or when you hear the name Delilah does this song come to mind:

Okay...sorry, let me get back on track.

Chapter 5: The First Cut is the Deepest

Oh Samson and Delilah.
Aside from the story of the Ark, Moses and the 10 Commandments, Jonah and the Whale, and a few others this is one of the stories I remember from Sunday school lessons past.
I don't think I ever really fathomed what was going on here.
An unwed man and woman, having an intimate relationship, only to end because of deceit, greed, and selfishness.

Did anyone else read this story and think, "What was wrong with Samson"?
I mean seriously how did he not see this coming?
She nagged him and pestered him and poked and prodded the answer right out of him.
What is the saying:
"Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me".
"Fool me three times and I'll totally not see it coming when you succeed the fourth time"?!

If you are human you know the 'benefits' or the feeling of nagging.

As children we probably asked our parents over and over and over again for things, wants, etc.

As teens it was probably 100x worse.

In relationships whether dating or married we've probably nagged about bad habits or attempted to find out about surprises....

Yet when everything is said and done, and if we get our way, we don't tend to feel as satisfied as we thought we would.

As a spouse, if I have to nag my husband to do something, when he finally does, I don't feel a sense of relief because it's done, I feel sad that I stressed my husband out about something so minuscule.

All Delilah was offered was enough money to make a new life for herself...

I guess that in itself was motivation enough.

Can you imagine her thought process.

She's unwed.

Having relations with this gorgeous man.

But they aren't married.

She's disliked because she is a harlot.

It's possible that Samson was an irritating, full of himself man.

I mean he was a prideful man, can you imagine him walking around tossing his hair over his shoulder and going on and on about how awesome he was.

Maybe Delilah couldn't take it anymore!  

They offered her money.

Enough money that she could move away, start fresh, maybe find a man who would marry her and make an honest woman of her.

What would you have done?

We will never know, hopefully you've never been put in that situation.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM DELILAH?

- 1 -  The love of a man is to be treasured.

"The heart of her husband trusts in her." ~Proverbs 31:11

- 2 -  Silver and gold aren't good company.

"To be esteemed is better than silver or gold." ~Proverbs 22:1

- 3 - Weaknesses need to be strengthened, not exposed.

"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses...For when I am weak, then I am strong." ~2 Corinthians 12:10

- 4 - For a happy home, keep your scissors out of reach.

"The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." ~Proverbs 14:1

Let's take a moment to reflect on our own lives.

Have you ever had a time in your life that you wanted to hurt someone?

Physically, emotionally, financially, socially....any other "-ally" way?

Did you seek revenge?

What happened because of it?

Did you feel better afterwards?

If you did nothing how were you able to resist the temptation of revenge?

In my own life I have been hurt by people, mostly emotionally.

I've been taken for granted.

I've been walked over and trampled on.

It's easy to look back and say I wish these people knew how they made me feel, but at the same time I don't wish that on anyone.

It's horrible to feel so alone, so guarded, so afraid to speak for fear you'll be misinterpreted.

That's the big one in my life.

I lost a friendship because a friend misinterpreted something I said.

Despite trying to resolve the issue there was no going back.

Do you think Delilah, after witnessing Samson lose his strength, wished she could give the money back and go back to what was?

I have to imagine that the feeling of cold coins in her pocket book did not feel nearly as comforting as the strength and warmth of Samson.

We live in a world where revenge is the motivation for so many movies and tv shows.

I have yet to watch it, but there is actually a show called "REVENGE".

We thrive on the drama...we tune in week after week.

Over and over again.

Read this verse and see what the Bible says about revenge:

Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the Lord.

Brush it off?

Walk away?

Forgive and forget?

Isaiah 30:12-13 Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will come for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.

Do you think of Delilah when you read that verse?

"depended on deceit"

"sin will come for you like a high wall...."

The question is posed in our study guide, 

Do you think Delilah was among those killed when the temple collapsed?

I assume she was.

She DID have feelings for Samson, I'm sure she was curious how her actions would affect this man.

She probably went to see what everyone around her had been talking about..."Did you see Samson in the temple....weak and beaten"? 

She probably couldn't believe it having only known him as strong and mighty.

How does this reflect now days?

How many of you have 'friends' on Facebook to whom you aren't actually friends with anymore?

Have you stalked them, curious of what they became?

It's hard, especially now days, to be and let be.

Curiosity gets the best of us.

Even if Delilah did get away do you think she was ever happy?

Can money ever really make you happy?

What's the most important lesson you've learned from this Woman?

 

I learned 1 lesson from Delilah and 1 from Samson.

For Delilah money can't buy you happiness, cliche as it sounds.

For Samson, never confuse lust (which promises nothing) with love (which provides an environment of trust, safety, and honesty).

Is there someone who has betrayed you recently?

Have you been hurt?

I ask you today to forgive the person.

By doing so you will have done the best you can.

You can walk away feeling at peace.

It's simple....

Keep Calm....and let go.

Don't be a Delilah.

Don't be greedy.

Don't be deceitful.

Don't be a Samson.

Don't be prideful.

Don't be blind.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 4 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Lot's wife.

Today I am going to focus on The Woman at the Well.

Chapter 4: The Woman at the Well

Picture that it's a hot summer day.  Not too hard to picture since summer is just now coming to a close and July was the hottest month in all the country in some 1400 months!
Your only way of quenching your thirst is to walk to the well and draw up water.
Our woman decides she is going to do this during the hottest part of the day.
The part of the day when most people avoid even being outside.
Why?
Because, no one likes her.
She is talked about for having been married a handful of times.
She is embarrassed to be seen.

Whatever, her reason may be she chose the perfect time to go to the well, albeit she didn't know that at the time.

Jesus was sitting by this well, his disciples were off finding food, and he sat waiting for the perfect moment.

Queue our woman, carrying a bucket.

He asks her to draw some water for him.

There are no introductions at this time, we never learn her name, but we know that He knows it.

Do you think that the omission of her name makes the story more or less true?

In my experience, when striking up a conversation with a stranger name exchanges may not occur until we part ways or not at all.

Friendly conversation with someone I may never meet again.

Sounds like something that would happen to me, so yes it feels more true.

Now we know that Jesus knew her name and about her husbands and her current lover, but can you imagine if he would have called out to her by name?

If it were me and a stranger called out my name I'd be thrown maybe concerned....less apt to stick around to see what else they knew about me.  

I think that's why he decided not to call her by name.

Our study guide asks us:

She came looking for water but instead found Jesus.  Was their meeting at the well a "coincidence"...or a "God-incidence"?  What leads you to this conclusion?

I am a big believer in what Liz Higgs calls a "God-incidence".  I believe he always means for these things to happen.  Why else would Jesus not go with the men to get food and per chance to run into a larger crowd he could speak to.  Instead he spoke with one woman and through her was able to reach many more.

WOW!

Wake up call to all of us.

God used one woman, one who people didn't think highly of, one who was older and of no stature.

We can all be used.

Read these verses and see what the Bible says about the our lives paths:

Job 31:4 Does he not see my ways and count my every step?

Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Jeremiah 10:23 LORD, I know that people's lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.

I find encouragement in these verses.

God has a plan for my life.

There is a common saying that goes something like this:

Man plans, God laughs.

It is so true, sometimes we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in ourselves that we are blind to what is going on around us.  

I think that if Jesus had gone to the town with his disciples the people may not have even seen him for who he was, but because the Woman went....she caught them off guard and in turn pulled their attention.

WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM THE WOMAN AT THE WELL?

- 1 - Never Be afraid to ask questions

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." ~James 1:5

- 2 - Not lying isn't the same as telling the truth

"Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." And you forgave me the guilt of my sin." ~Psalm 32:5

- 3 -  Thirst is a gift from God

"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?" ~Psalm 42:2

- 4 -  Water is meant to be shared not hoarded

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying the good news of God's grace." ~Acts 20:24

We know, by reading this story, that the Woman at the Well was not afraid to ask Jesus questions.

She was bold in some of her statements.

We do not need to be meek.

It is okay to be strong women.

It is okay to be bold women.

We can be both strong and bold when we put God first.

He will guide our words and actions so that they work best for him.

What's the most important lesson you've learned from this Woman?

For me it was:

Be Bold, but be cautious.

And GET EXCITED!

Once she tasted that living water she was excited.

She set down her jug and rushed to tell the good news.

I need to be more excited to share the good news with people I encounter.

I tend to save my testimonies for when I really need to relate to someone and show them that God will bring us through bad times, but I shouldn't wait for bad things to share with other.

I should share always!

How can you be like the Woman at the Well?

What jug are you carrying that may be slowing you down from drinking the living water?

Take a moment to stop what your doing and ask God to take that burdan from you.

To replace it with his love and grace.

Feel the weight lifted.

Feel the pep in your step return.

God is good and he has a plan for you.

Live it!

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 3 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Potiphar's wife.

Today I am going to focus on Lot's wife.

Chapter 3: Lot's Wife

Today we meet another nameless woman of the Bible.

The crazy part is, not only is she nameless, but we also don't hear a sound from her.

In fact she is hardly mentioned in the story.

Until the end, when she looks back and is turned to a pillar of salt.

How tragic.

This story makes me think of an up and coming actress.

She gets her first part in a tv show and tells all her family to watch.

Then she calls after to see if everyone saw her.

"No, we didn't see you, when were you on" they all ask puzzled.

Only to find out she only walked through a scene as a waitress in the background.

A small role, no lines, just a visual.

Do you know women who are quiet?

Not just reserved, but those whose husbands make all the decisions.

The ones who you may wonder if they think for themselves?

I've known a few.

I worried about them.

Don't get me wrong I'm 100% for being submissive to your husband, but in our household we discuss things and my husband gets to make the final decision should we reach an impasse.

Here is Lot's wife...quiet, almost invisible.

Again don't get me wrong, read these verses and understand that there is a benefit to being quiet at times:

Job 6:24 Teach me and I will be quiet, show me where I have been wrong

Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his names sake.

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves.  He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

There is a time to be quiet and there is a time to speak out.

Honestly, with all that is going on around Lot's wife you would think she would speak out.

Seriously, at one point in this story her husband, HER OWN HUSBAND offers his betrothed daughters to the men hoard of men to have their way with in place of the strangers visiting him.

I am a mother.

Of a daughter.

If my husband were to offer her to a hoard of irate Sodomites you better believe I would have something to say.

But here we are and there she is, quiet as a mouse.

It seems obvious that there is something wrong with her.

We know that Lot and his family have grown to love the finer things in life.

Maybe Lot's wife has is distracted by Facebook or Angrybirds?

You get the point.

When they are told to flee not once but threes times they hesitate.

It means leaving behind all they have.

Their earthly possessions.

Do you struggle with this?

I'm guessing his wife struggled with this.

Matthew 6:19 Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.

We are all guilty of this.

Can you relate to how hard it must have been for Lot's family to leave it all?

Have you ever had to leave it all, even if only for a short period of time (i.e. evacuation)?

When I was a child we had to escape to our basement on 2 separate occasions due to tornadoes. 

One time the houses on either side of us were both hit, not a blade of grass was harmed in our yard.
On both occasions God protected us and our home.

The idea that we could have lost everything had our home been hit didn't really register to me as a child.

I'm sure my mother comprehended it.

I know she had grabbed photo albums and a few other items before rushing us all downstairs.

It's amazing how attached we become to worldly items.

I'm as guilty as they come.

I would probably want to grab my external hard drive if I was only able to grab one item.

It has all our photos.

Those mean so much to me.

In the hustle of 'fleeing' did Lot's wife turn back because she realized she forgot the family photos?
Or did she turn back because she was curious what the strange visitors were going to do to her town?
Hello original rubbernecker.
Guilty again!
I've been known to slow down when driving by an accident, turn my head to the window and try to catch a glimpse of what happened.
Haven't we all?

The book asks us if we think that she intentionally chose death over life.
I don't think she did.
I think we all make mistakes.
Sin is the death of us and we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory.
We have all 'died' momentarily to His desires for our lives.
Sometimes it is unintentional.
Most often it's avoidable.
But we've all turned around to see what 'fun' thing is going on behind us.
We have Jesus to thank for our not turning into pillars of salt of our own.
Could you imagine if every time people sinned they were instantly turned to pillars of salt?
A.) That would make for a creepy world to live in.
B.) I think we would all be pillars.
C.) If you managed to not become a pillar you would probably walk around in a constant state of fear because every where you looked you'd see people as pillars.
Fortunately, the whole turning people into giant sodium chloride statues only happens this one time in the Bible.
Do you intentionally choose death over life?
How can you make an honest change in your life that will help you not look back?
Do not worry about what would have been.
Do not worry about what you are missing out on.
Instead focus your eyes forward.
Keep your eyes on the prize.
He has laid a path for you and it all leads to treasures much finer than anything we can acquire here on earth.

What's the most important lesson you learned from the story of Lot's wife?
For me, it was learning that hearing "don't" doesn't mean we are missing out.  It can simply be the guidance that will lead to bigger and better.
Also, I learned that being a submissive wife doesn't mean you need to sit quietly in the corner.
Exodus 4:11 says, right after Moses calls himself tongue-tied, Then the LORD asked Moses, "Who makes a person's mouth?  Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see?  Is it not I, the LORD?  Now go!  I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say".
God gave us a voice for a reason.  If Lot's wife was unhappy with how her husband was offering up their daughters, but was unsure how to stop him, she should have prayed for him to guide her words.
He says he will.
Do not be a silent partner.
Allow God to be in your relationship and to guide all you say and do.

Take a moment and thank God for all you have been blessed with.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 2 Bible Study

Welcome back!

If you are new, thanks for stopping by!

Last week we talked about Eve and the original sin.

Today I am going to talk to you about what many of us married folk consider the worst sin.

I know, I know, in God's eyes all sins are equally bad.

However, if you are in a relationship, even just dating there is probably one sin that you would have a hard time forgiving.

After all we have all lied and possibly even coveted.

But cheating/adultery is that sin that causes your heart to sink, your stomach to churn, and your body to feel repulsed.

Let's get started.

Chapter 2: Potiphar's Wife

The book brings to our attention something we may not think about often.

Potiphar's wife is without a name.  

Okay, she has a name, but it isn't mentioned.

She is simply referred to as the wife of Potiphar.

How often do you refer to people as, "The mother/father of, the sister/brother of, the such and such and so and so of"?

It doesn't seem like a big deal, unless of course you are the person being referred to.

Sometimes we get lost in the identity of what we do instead of who we really are.

I am so guilty of forgetting people's names that I now preface it upon initial introductions!

"Please forgive me, but I am terrible with names, so I hope you won't be offended if I ask you what it is again later," that is my typical opening line.  

In this story Potiphar's wife is feeling, what I can only assume to be a sense of lose.  

Her husband is a big body guard/security detail type guy whose focus is more often on what goes in his belly.

He hire's Joseph to handle all his affairs.

But in Potiphar's wife's eyes there is still no one handling her!

She is growing lonelier by the day, until she realizes how handsome Joseph is.

She hatches a plan to fulfill her bodily desires.

Unfortunate for her though Joseph is able to restrain himself.

Potiphar's wife feels foolish.

So in order to protect herself she keeps an item of Joseph's clothing that she tore off of him and then she cries wolf!

Potiphar believes Joseph, but still he punishes him.

Prison instead of death though, God was watching out for him.

As far as we know Potiphar's wife gets away with lying and attempted adultery.

So we can easily see why she is considered a Bad Girl of the Bible.

Read the following verses:

Ephesians 4:18-19 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.  They have no sense of shame.  They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

With all of this said, I think all of us know that cheating is wrong.

So how does it happen?

Why does it happen?

Here are some of the top excuses for cheating:

-I was lonely, you're never around

-I thought you didn't love me anymore

-I was confused about what I wanted

-I felt taken advantage of

-It was an accident

Let's examine a few of these to see how the situations can be better avoided.

I was lonely, you are never around:  I have a husband who can get called up to deploy at just about any times.  That being said I could be without a husband for 3,6,12 months straight.  I know that not all wives are military wives and they don't all sign up for that kind of deal, but maybe your husband works long hours at the office.  Maybe his job causes him to travel a lot.  In my opinion the best way to avoid falling into this trap is to find and do something you LOVE.  Maybe it's time for you to go back to school.  Maybe it's time for you to get a hobby or if you are able and wanting a job of some sort.  The most important part is that when your significant other is around you need to be able to communicate these feelings to them.  They need to know that you need attention to.  It always sounds cliche´, but communication is the key to a happier, healthier marriage.

I felt taken advantage of: I get it.  Especially as a stay at home mom, my job is a repeat of what I did yesterday and the day before and what I'll do tomorrow and the day after that.  I clean, cook, fold, tidy, entertain, etc.  Without hearing the words 'Thank You' often enough I'm sure a woman could feel taken advantage of.  I'm sure that it would be so easy to fall into the trap of seeking attention elsewhere.  Maybe you have come to find enjoyment out of getting checked out by other men, just to see that you've still go 'it'.  Oh ladies, it's a trap.  Those other men have no idea.  I'm going to harp on this again, but communication is KEY!!!  Tell your spouse you are feeling this way.  Ask your spouse to help you by giving you some time to take care of yourself.  I bet that if you could find just 30 minutes a day to have alone (either in the shower, doing a devotional, painting your toenails, etc), you might just find that you find peace in the repetition.  Also, kindly remind your spouse how much you appreciate it when he shows you gratitude.  Actually, better yet, try this.  Start thanking your spouse for the things they do over and over and over again.  I bet you before you know it, they will feel the love and start reciprocating!

And the best excuse....

It was an accident: We've all seen movies with a myriad of scenarios in which a fling is set in motion.  How do we protect ourselves from this?  In my opinion we must above reproach.  Don't put yourself in a situation where there is a person of the opposite gender alone with you.  Don't flirt, because ultimately you are flirting with danger, avoid books and movies that might fill your head with images other than that of your spouse.  I am not perfect.  None of us are, but I know I am not.  However, I avoid steamy romance novels and movies that are primarily focuses on sexual exploitation *cough* Magic Mike *cough*.  I don't mean to offend anyone, but I know that if I want to keep myself focused on my husband I should day dream about other men.

Let's get back to Potiphar's wife.

The book states that 'her obvious sin was lust, perhaps the root of Mrs. P's sin was anger.  How does the same sin rear its ugly head in your won life'?

Lastly, let's end this by asking:

'What's the most important lesson you've learned from the tragic, timeless story of Potiphar's wife'?

For me it was that our sin does not affect ONLY us.  

In this story Potiphar's wife's actions affected both Joseph and Potiphar.

Adultery affects not only the husband and wife, but the children (if there are any) and the family of the spouses, and the friends....so many people.  It is a ripple affect.

Maybe for you it is more about learning not to react to an insecurity in a negative way.  

After all Potiphar's wife was obviously battling some insecurities and handled it all the wrong way.

Can you relate to her lashing out about being ignored?

I can.

I remember an incident a few years back.

I was hanging out with friends, but I felt like a third wheel.

So instead of rationally explaining how I felt I resorted to sarcasm and quippy comments to get their attention.

Guilty?

Are you in any way shocked that you can relate to this woman of the Bible?

I hope that you have not been hurt by the affects of cheating.

If so I pray that your heart be restored.

God can fix anything, even a marriage or relationship that has been tainted by cheating.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bad Girls of the Bible- Chapter 1 Bible Study

Welcome everyone!

I am so excited to start this Bible study.

Bible Verse Friday was great and I may go back to it someday, but lately I've been feeling that I need to be challenged.

I need to immerse myself more in the word.

I need to know more so that I can be more for God.

That being said I thought I would start by studying the women of the Bible.

If you picked up a copy of this book, fantastic!

This week we will cover Chapter 1.

If not, you can always get a copy later, or you can just read the scripture that I post and answer the questions accordingly.

I highly recommend this book, however, as Liz Curtis Higgs has a great way of re-creating each story from the Bible into a modern day tale.

Her ability to make it seem more relevant is the key to better applying it to your own life.

That being said, let's dive in!

Chapter 1: Eve

First let us recognize that Eve was the first woman.  

She was created by God to be Adam's helpmate.

On page 22 of our book we read, "Solitude is not good; man is created for sociability."  Even those of us who cherish our quiet moments alone get stir-crazy eventually....It's a God-given drive, this need to connect with other humans.

Adam was alone and God knew that it was not good.

Thus Eve was created.

Read Genesis 3:1-5

Let us focus on the serpent for a moment.  

In my version he is described as crafty, no not the knitting, sewing, modge podge-ing kind of crafty but the up to no good, mischievous kind of crafty.

Every word that came of his tongue was dripping with deception.

God never told Eve that she couldn't touch the tree, but only that she must not eat of it.

Here we learn an important lesson in committing HIS word to memory and to heart.  

When the serpent exaggerated God's Word he was able to trick Eve.

That's all it takes.

A simple small change in HIS word and we begin to question what we know to be true.

Now Eve allowed herself to be manipulated.

Then Adam tasted the fruit.

Inevitably we know what happens next.

Their eyes were opened, they realized they were naked, they hid.

Instead of taking responsibility for sinning they tried to hide it.

I wonder if things would have turned out differently if they had immediately cried out to God.

"Father, we have sinned against you.  We did just as you told us not to.  Please forgive us".

I wonder what God's reaction would have been.

Taking all that we know let's ponder a few questions.

-Eve wanted to be like God.  To know good from evil.

Read the following verses:

Isaiah 40:25-26 To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?  Says the Holy One.  Lift up your eyes & look to the heavens:  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one & calls forth each of them by name.  Because of his great power & mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways:  declares the LORD.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways & my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom & the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Obviously no one is equal to God.  No amount of eating fruit will make us more like God.  It is a lie from Satan to believe that is possible.  Yet far too often we fall into the trap of wanting to 'play God' or control all things.  Do you find yourselves wondering why everyone else is doing things the wrong way?  Why can't they do it my way?  What can you do to rebuke this desire to be in control?

I know I am guilty of this.  I have caught myself wondering why my husband cleans differently than I do, or why people drive a certain way, etc.  Unfortunately I don't always recognize that I am feeling this way right away.  However, when I feel this coming on the best thing I can do is remind myself that there is more than one way to get to the same destination.  If I am really struggling the best thing I can do is stop and ask God to help me relinquish control.

-Denial is another form of trying to hid our sins, even from ourselves.

Psalm 69:5 says You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

This makes me think of how growing up my parents always knew when I was lying.

I was mystified!

Now that I am a mother, albeit of a 10 month old, I know how my parents knew.

They watched me grow up.

They knew my tells.

I see it in my daughter, precious as she may be, she still gets a look in her eye as she goes to do something I just stopped her from doing.

What have you been lying about?

To others, to yourself?

What lies have you been believing?

Have you ever tried to cover up the evidence of your sin?

Was it effective?

I have tried to cover up evidence of my sin many times, but one incident in particular outshines so many and actually makes me laugh when I think about it.

When I was a child we were about to move from Alabama to Georgia.

My brother and I shared a room, we had bunk beds and I was playing mountain climber.

I had tied a yarn ribbon around the top of the bed and I was trying to climb to the top without using the ladder.

Well the ribbon was meant to hold hair, not the weight of a small child and needless to say it broke and I fell.

My head hit the wall and when I pulled myself up I noticed a huge head shaped dent in the wall.

I pushed a box infront of it and rushed to my closet.

WHY did I rush to my closet?

I have no idea.

Maybe because I thought if I hid long enough and my parents didn't investigate we would be able to move out and no one would notice?!

The mind of a child.

Needless to say my parents found me and the hole in the wall.

All was forgiven, but like Adam and Eve, I rushed to hid from my sin.

-What is the most important lesson you have learned from Eve?

Taking into account the above story I just shared, this was the moral of the story I have concluded to:

I knew good and well I shouldn't try to climb my bed in such a matter, but I did it anyway.
The moral of the story is we can not hide from our sin, we must call it out by name, rebuke it and ask for forgiveness.

I hope you have enjoyed this time of study.

Please let me know if you would like to see something in particular in our discussions or if you have any questions.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

Bible Verse Friday-

"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived incomplete honesty!

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.

Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.  My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.  I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD."  And you forgave me!  All my guilt is gone.

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgement.

For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble.  You surround me with songs of victory.

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you.  

Do not be like senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.

So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him!  Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!"

~Psalm 32

My NLT Life Application Study Bible Says the following:

Here David expressed the joy of forgiveness.
God wants to forgive sinners.  Forgiveness has always been part of his loving nature.
He forgives disobedience, puts sin out of sight, and clears our record of guilt.
What is confession?
To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that he is right to declare what we have done is sinful and that we are wrong to desire or to do it.  It means affirming our intention of forsaking that sin in order to follow God more faithfully.
God describes some people as being like horses or mules that have to be controlled by bits and bridles.  Rather than letting God guide them step by step, they stubbornly leave God only one option.  If God wants to keep them useful for him, he must use discipline and punishment.  God longs to guide us with love and wisdom rather than punishment.  He offers to teach us the best way to go.  Accept the advice written in God's Word and don't let your stubbornness keep you from obeying God.

I think we have all heard the phrase:
"We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God".
Have you ever stopped to think about how judgmental we can all be.
We judge people's sins as though some are worse than others.
While in our eyes it may seem that way in God's eyes all sin is equal.
We need to work on adjusting our hearts to remember this, because if we can remember this than we will know that we are no better than anyone else.

Our sins are the same as theirs.
The only thing that all of us can do is confess them to God and ask his forgiveness.
I think far to often we trick ourselves into believing that if we ignore this 'little' sin it'll go away.
But we can not hide it from God.
God knows and sees all.
We are open books to him and he is just asking us to confess what's been written so that we can turn the page.

Do you have something that is lingering in you today?
Have you said something hurtful?
Have you thought something lustful?
Have your been dishonest or deceitful?
Take a moment right now.
Get on your knees and put a name on what you have done.
Rebuke it.
Dispel  Satan from his handle and ask GOD to forgive you.
Do not be stubborn.
Stubbornness only increases your struggle.
Let go and let God lead you, gracefully and gently down the path he has planned for you.

I hope you read this today and make peace with something that is troubling you.
Not a day goes by when God doesn't want to forgive you and shower you with grace and love.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!

P.S. Next week there will be no Bible Verse Friday as it's the 27th of the month and thus time for a Baby Diary entry.  On another note, starting in August I would like to put a little spin on Bible Verse Friday and spend some time focusing on actual Bible Study.  More specifically Women of the Bible.  If you would care to join me I am starting off with Bad Girls of the Bible feel free to get a copy 2nd hand for less here.  I will also be getting the workbook, but you don't have to get that if you don't want to.  I am thinking that each week we will cover one chapter/one woman and I will select some questions to discuss here.  I would love feedback if you have read or have insight!  I look forward to this new journey!